Bandt releases penalty rates ad after Greens focus national attention on weekend pay rates
Following the second week of the campaign beginning by focussing on the parties' differences on penalty rates, Greens Industrial Relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP has released a campaign video to ensure voters know that only the Greens will protect people's weekend rates of pay.
The ad is set at a food store that pays penalty rates on the weekend. The retail manager says this allows staff who are also students to pay their rent while studying fulltime. It then switches to the audio of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s interview last month on 3AW where he committed Labor to accepting the Fair Work Commission’s ruling should it cut penalty rates before ending with the statement that ‘only the Greens will protect penalty rates in legislation’.
The advertisement has been uploaded to Mr Bandt's Facebook page and YouTube account and is being widely shared. In just two hours the post had already reached 30,000 people on Facebook.
"The Greens are the only party that will protect people's weekend rates of pay by enshrining protections in law," Mr Bandt said.
"The Liberals will attack people's rights at work and the Greens urge Labor to join us in standing up to the conservatives."
"Labor frontbenchers have talked themselves in circles as they avoid committing to act if employer groups succeed in their push to cut weekend rates."
"Thousands of Australians, particularly young Australians, depend on their weekend penalty rates to make ends meet."
Mr Bandt said he had released the ad highlighting Labor's tricky position on penalty rates to ensure voters are properly informed about their decision this election.
"Labor talks tough on penalty rates, yet they have committed to joining the Liberals in accepting weekend penalty rates being cut."
"People deserve to know that only a vote for the Greens will ensure their existing weekend rates are protected and that is why I have released this ad."
You can view the ad on Facebook here and on YouTube here.
Media contact: Adam Pulford, 0429 109 054